MUM-TO-BE Laura Cunliffe made it to hospital in the nick of time - after calling for a police escort.

MUM-TO-BE Laura Cunliffe made it to hospital in the nick of time - after calling for a police escort.

With the baby on the way Laura, 28, started to panic when she and partner Neil Billington became stuck in traffic.

She spotted PCs Steve Smith and Phil Sung in their police car and jumped into the back.

With sirens and lights blazing, the pair got her to Warrington hospital minutes before Natalie weighed in at 7lbs 6ozs.

Ms Cunliffe said: "By the time we got in the car I was screaming in pain. We got going but there was gridlock.

"I was determined not to have the baby in the car and then I saw the police."

PC Smith and PC Sung, based in St Helens and both fathers to little girls, were on their way to the hospital on another matter when they spotted Ms Cunliffe abandon Mr Billington's blocked-in car.

PC Smith said: "I looked in the mirror and saw a woman running between the cars and suddenly she jumps into the back seat of the police car.

"She said that she needed help because she was about to have a baby. It was obvious she was in a great deal of pain. Phil and I looked at each other and my heart was really beating fast. Then we put the blue lights and klaxons on.

" We forced our way through the traffic and screeched to a halt outside the hospital. Laura was rushed inside and we hung about for her partner to turn up.

"People usually want to get out of police cars rather than get in them."

Mr Billington got to the hospital just in time to see Natalie born and the PCs went to see Laura in hospital to meet the new arrival and drop off a card.

Natalie's swift arrival was no surprise to Ms Cunliffe, as three-year-old sister Nicole was born less than an hour after Ms Cunliffe got to hospital.

Ms Cunliffe, of Warrington, said: "The traffic parted like the Red Sea. Steve and Phil were just fantastic. I have bought them a bottle of whisky and a box of Miniature Heroes to say thanks."